Trailblazing development: Effects of state-led interventions on forest degradation patterns and local governance in the Calakmul—Sian Ka’an Corridor, Mexico

State-led interventions in Mexico's Calakmul–Sian Ka’an Corridor (CSC) significantly alter forest degradation patterns, with effects varying non-linearly based on prior forest condition, disturbance history, and local governance. Unlike deforestation, degradation dominates forest change dynamics, with biomass loss depending on disturbance type, rate, and recovery potential. The study reveals that local communities selectively adapt conservation and development interventions through existing rules, labor practices, and aspirations, rather than uniformly resisting or supporting them. Using remote sensing, institutional analysis, and scenario modeling, the research demonstrates that future land-use trajectories hinge on whether interventions strengthen long-term landscape investments like agroforestry or exacerbate short-term deforestation pressures.

Calzada, Leonardo. (2026). Trailblazing development: Effects of state-led interventions on forest degradation patterns and local governance in the Calakmul—Sian Ka’an Corridor, Mexico. No Publisher Supplied. https://doi.org/10.7282/T3-5YD9-QP50